Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-04-02

found, and never dreamed Of Withholding
the least scrap Of information. This il
praiseworthy in every walk of life, but
especially lau liable in a genealogist. because
this least scrap is always the thing which is
of the greatest importance. Such a simple
thing, for instance, as a single one-lined
entry in a parish register concerning a mar
riage a hundred years ago, has been known
to prove a very gold mine to the discoverer.
No man in the city had a more valuable
clerk than Mr.. Murridge, or a cheaper clerk.
on the ground that, although they are al
ways honest, and may be undergrad and
overworked to any extent, and though they
never grumble and always carry out orders
literally and exactly, one cannot swear ut
them There is force in the objection. though
it is no.. l believe. felt by some of the gen
tlemen who employ girls to sell gloves and
bonnets and beer, and soda-and- brandy, nor
was it fe t by Mr.. Murridge, who, when No
rah first came to him, swore at her every
day. She did not like being sworn at. It
made her limbs tremble and her face turn
red and pale, but she thought it wisest to say
nothing about it at home, for the usual rea-
son that there was not much money going,
and h-r small salary was useful; and, be-
sides. her brother being q student at Uni
versity College hospital. there was, just
then. less than usual. Whenever Mr.. Muir.
ridges orders were imperfectly obeyed or
neglected, he swore at her. Why notl When
he was a prentice he had been sworn at every
day, cuHed, caned and kicked, until he be-
came a smart prentice and a good engraver
Why should he not swear at his own c,erka
He did, and with sad, wearisome iteration of
one word that Norah grew to loathe that
word, and to take any amount Of pains and
trouble in order not to hear it.
Norah had now, however, been so long
with Mr.: Murridge, and had worked for
him so well-pedigree hunting is matter of
instinct with some, like finding old books or
picking up old ~coins-that he had almost
ceased to use Language even in her pres
ence. He knew her value, and in his softer
moments he had thoughts even of raising
her salary.
At half-past ten In the morning all city
offices are in their first fresh vigor and
early morning enthusiasm Of work. The
glow Of the dawn, 50 to speak, is upon them.
The glow fingers till about half-past eleven,
whom fatigue and languor begin among
the younger brethren; at twelve many
have visibly relaxed and have begun
to glance at the clock and to wriggle on
their seats 1t Is not, however, until five in
tAC oAAGAA OOh bAAoG ILo la VI l1OOE Is
really felt to weigh heavily upon the shoul-
ders of tho young clerk. In Mr.. Murridge's
outer office there was no languor or fatigue
possible, because there was no labor either
for Mr.. Richard or for the boy. 1t was a
season of foigetfulness. No work had been
| gwen to Dick for three weeks, and except IN
the evening, when there were letters to be
put through the press, no work was ever
given to the Office boy. During this enforced
idieness Dick Murridge sat the whole day at
his table by the window, which CO nmanded
a view of back yards, chimneys and out
houses. He amused himself by drawing
girls heads Upon his blotting pad in pencil.
and drew On the next, so that the pad was
become a perfect gallery Of lovcliness. By
dlnt of long practice he could draw a girls
face very well. whether full or in profile, or
a three quarter face. He looked at his watch
a good deal and he grunbled a good deal,
and if the office boy made any noise he used
bad language, but not loud enough for his
father to hear, because Mr.. Murridge was
ono OF those parents who reserve certain
vices for their own use and forbid them to
their sons.
The office boy sat at another table, on
which was n copying press. He had nothing
to do, as a rule, except to copy letters by
means of the press and go on errands.
But this boy never found the day too
long or the golden hours dull. This was
because his table had a drawer. Even to an
industrious clerk Il drawer is q standing
temptation. To the lazy clerk it is an ever
present snare; to the clerk who has nothing
to do the drawer is a never failing solace
and resource. This boy, a city-born boy,
with sharp eyes, pasty face and Common
place features, was able, by means of his
drawer, to live all day long in another
world. He kept it %half-open. so that at the
least movement or sound from the inner Of
flee, or change Of position in Mr.. Murridgc,
who sat with his back to him, he could. by
a quick. forward movement of his chest.
shut the drawer suddenly and noiselessly,
and be discovered, so to speak, in tho atti.
tude of the expectant. ready and Jealous
clerk, Eager to do something which would
lessen the drain Of his three half-crowns
a week. Inside the drawer there
was always a story-one Of those
spirit-stirring, exciting and romantic stories
of adventure which can be bought for a
penny, and which never pail upon the reader.
So that this boys days were passed IN a de.
licious and delirious dream of adventure,
love AMI peril, tempered only by the fear OF
being suddenly found out and horribly cuffed
or even dim ssed, when he would catch l,
worse at home under the family cane. II
the boy is not before long enabled to live UP
to that dream and to become a rover, pirate,
smuggler or highwayman, I fear that Iii.
whole future will be wrecked. Because there
inevitably comes a time of hope too long de.
ferred, when the realization Of q dream.
thou Ii possible, no longer seems delightful.
1 Thfc hnt. NJ irht AnSn vr,Ny <0 NNrya1
the lawlcss life; or. if he pursues it, he may
become II mere common burglar. forger,
long firm man, conidential-dodge man or
welsher-joy!ess, moody. apprehensive. sus
ricious and prone to sneak round a corner al
sigh: OF n man in blue co, and helmet.
In the front room-Mr. Murridge's room
the chief sat at a great tab covered with
papers. He was not consulting tiny; he had
before him halt a dozen checks, and he was
looking at them with pcrturbed eyes. Some
times he compared one with another; some
times he lookel at each separately; and a;
he cooked his ard face grew harder and
his keen eye, sharper. Six checks. They
were all drawn Tor the same sum. twelve
pounds. and the were all >igncd by himself
One would not think that the contemplation
of half a dozen checks payable to self OF
bearer, signed BY ones own name, could
take a busy man from his work. But they
did.
About eleven O'Clock the silence of the
office wa- broken by n light step on the stair.
The boy shut III his drawer with a swift and
silent jerk Of his chest. so that be might be
discovered with his elbows on the table and
his hands clasping the handles Of he copy
ing press. q model attitude for the Jealous
unemployed. when the door opened and q
vo1nr adv oDpan rod CARRYING a black hao